Protective beauty mask

ABSTRACT

Facial beauty mask to protect the facial skin and muscle tissue of the wearer from pressure and distortion during the sleep period due to contact with bedding material. The mask is comprised of a porous slightly elastic flexible material shaped to the general contours of the portions of the face which the mask covers. The mask has side face portions and side jaw portions which jaw portions are joined together by an underchin portion. The chin portion, including a chin cap portion, and the underchin portion is joined to the side face portions and extends upwardly at the front of the chin at a point intermediate the apex of the chin and the lower lip of the wearer. The side face portions extend from an apex slightly above and forward of the ear of the wearer downwardly and forwardly along the side face of the wearer to a point just outside and behind the eye and forward of the cheek area and downwardly to join the chin portion of the wearer and to the side jaw portions. The forehead, eyes, nose, and mouth of the wearer remain uncovered. The mask provides a buffer to protect those areas of the face which would normally be stretched and distorted during the sleep process due to pressure contact with bedding material. The mask is preferably constructed integrally of an open-cell synthetic resin material of approximately one-fourth to one-half inch thickness.

United States Patent [191 Welch [451 Apr. 23, 1974 PROTECTIVE BEAUTY MASK [76] Inventor: William F. Welch, 7 Greenridge Ave., White Plains, N.Y. 10605 [22] Filed: May 16, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 253,847

Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-J. Yasko Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Irons, Sears & Santorelli [5 7] ABSTRACT Facial beauty mask to protect the facial skin and muscle tissue of the wearer from pressure and distortion during the sleep period due to contact with bedding material. The mask is comprised of a porous slightly elastic flexible material shaped to the general contours of the portions of the face which the mask covers. The mask has side face portions and side jaw portions which jaw portions are joined together by an underchin portion. The chin portion, including a chin cap portion, and the underchin portion is joined to the side face portions and extends upwardly at the front of the chin at a point intermediate the apex of the chin and the lower lip of the wearer. The side face portions extend from an apex slightly above and forward of the ear of the wearer downwardly and forwardly along the side face of the wearer to a point just outside and behind the eye and forward of the cheek area and downwardly to join the chin portion of the wearer and to the side jaw portions. The forehead, eyes, nose, and mouth of the wearer remain uncovered. The mask provides a buffer to protect those areas of the face which would normally be stretched and distorted during the sleep process due to pressure contact with bedding material. The mask is preferably constructed in tegrally of an open-cell synthetic resin material of approximately one-fourth to one-half inch thickness.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEM R 2 1m 38057 2 SHEET 1 [1F 2 ?ATENTEUAPR23 lam 3.8057 2 SHEET 2 UP 2 I PROTECTIVE BEAUTY MASK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an improved facial beauty mask intendedto aid in the prevention or minimization of the occurrence of wrinkles in the skin of the face due to stretching and stressing of the skin and muscles of the facial area especially during the sleep period.

It is an important concern of most people, particularly thoseof the feminine gender, to maintain a youthful appearance, especially with respect to the appearance of the face. It iswell known that the face will appear older as facial muscles weaken and especially when the skin of the face is stretched and wrinkled. It is a constant concern of many women, as evidenced by the extensiveapplication of facial beauty creams, mois turizers, and the like, to retard or prevent the formation of wrinkles as long as possible. Treatments, including facial massages to tone the muscles, facial uplifting by surgical means, and the like, are ample evidence of the pervading concern of women in maintaining a youthful appearance as long as possible. In the past, aside from the surgical procedures and the application of moisturizers, the art has utilized various facial mask constructions which generally covered the entire face of the wearer to apply pressure to the muscles at selected points with the hopes of firming up the muscle tissue, or served primarily as a means of placing various cosmetics such as moisturizers, creams, and the like, in continuing contact with the facial skin for an extended period of time. Many of these masks were quite grotesque in their appearance and the utilization of masks in an effort to tone up the muscles in most cases was directed to an effort trying to eliminate the existence of already formed wrinkles which very often was an impossible objective. The use of moisturizers and creams sought to prevent or retard the formation of wrinkles by keeping the skin moist and pliable. Such cosmetics are of considerable help; nevertheless, the normal stretching and distortion of the skin during the sleep period in any event results in the formation of wrinkles.

The preferred approach to maintaining the youthful appearance of the face is by prevention of the formation of wrinkles by, wherever possible, the elimination of the controllable causes of the formation of wrinkles in the face. As indicated, it is believed that one of the primary causes of lines and wrinkles in facial muscles is the stresses and distortions to which the facial skin is subjected to during the sleep period when the face is in contact with a pillow or other surfaces of the sleeping area, i.e., bed. Thus, during the sleep period, the face is in frictional pressure contact with the surface of the bed or pillow, and during the continuing movement of most persons during the sleep period, the facial area is subjected to stress by reason of such contact. Thus, the muscles of the face are subjected to continuing pressure and the skin to friction, thus constantly moving and distorting the tissues and skin of the face. The distortion to which the face is subjected when in contact with the pillow or bed when the head is moved to conform to shifting body positions during sleep can be illustrated by the following simple exercise. If one places the hand firmly against the side of the face with a pressure approximating the weight of the head on the pillow and moves the hand upward, one will note immediately that the side of the face has become very distorted. The skin around the eyes is stretched to the point of giving an exaggerated Oriental almond'cut appearance, and under the eye deep stretch wrinkles will appear and extend to the side or crows feet area outside the eye. It is also noted that the skin over the cheekbone and around the mouth is distortedout of proportion. If this exercise is continued moving the hand around in a 360 area, it can be seen that in every position portions of the face are significantly distorted and lines and wrinkles are formed in the surface of the skin.

It is an object of the invention of this application to prevent or minimize such distortions from occurring especially during the sleep period. Optionally the invention of the present application will also aid in retaining the moisturizers where such are desired to be employed in combination with the protective facial beauty mask of the present invention.

Prior Art Previous facial beauty masks have been designed primarily with the intention of proviidinga treatment for already sagging facial muscles and wrinkled skin such as applying moisturizers or differential pressures to the selected areas of the face. In most instances, such masks have been relatively complicated in construction and inconvenient to wear as well as very unattractive and at times grotesque in appearance. In most instances, the masks were designed for wearing while the wearer was in the upright position, that is, during the day or during non-sleep periods.

US. Pat. No. 2,882,892 Kosior discloses a mask which is worn when the person is in the reclined position and is designed for applying increased pressures to selected frontal areas in order to strengthen muscles. In this case, the maskcovers the entire facial area.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,558,263 Merrill is a full facial mask which is designed for applying various cosmetics, particularly astringent materials, to the surface of the face and is constructed of absorbent fabric material. This mask employs small triangular shapes of paper to serve as reinforcements for the mask to prevent distortion of the mask rather than of the face as the astringent preparation dries in the mask after absorption from the face.

US. Pat. No. 2,671,446 Mann discloses a full facial mask which comprises a one-piece stretch plastic which requires a paper liner for the application of creams. In this case, the plastic is impervious and is designed to have the appearance of a face much like a doll face. The mask is designed to pull the skin of the face to conform with the configuration of the mask. Thus, the mask in effect stretches and distorts the skin of the face of the wearer in an attempt to have it restored to a theoretically ideal shape corresponding to the mask.

As indicated, it is believed that one of the most helpful means of preventing or minimizing the formation of wrinkles is to prevent or, control the distortion or stretching of the facial tissues wherever possible. The

importance of this is evident in the fact that fashion models avoid smiling as much as possible to decrease the probability of the formation of wrinkles in the face.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a facial beauty mask which serves primarily for the prevention or minimization of the formation of lines and wrinkles in the face caused by stretching and distortion of the facial skin and muscle tissue especially during the sleep period when the face is'in contact with a pillow or bed. The protective facial beauty mask of the present invention is comfortable to wear, and protects the primary areas of the face wherein lines and wrinkles tend to form most readily such as the sides of the eyes, jowl line, the underside of the jaw and chin, and the sides of the face. Contrary to most previous masks of the cosmetic type, the mouth, nose, eyes, and forehead are not covered. The protective facial beauty mask of the present invention is designed to act primarily as a buffer between the surface of the face and the pillow or mattress during the sleep period. The mask of the present invention is comfortable to wear, simple in construction, and easy to put on. Furthermore, it does not impart any unusual pressures or distortions to the facial muscles but contrarily serves to prevent unwanted pressure and distortion of the facial skin and muscle tissue which is indicated to be the primary cause of the accelerated formation of lines and wrinkles in the face.

The protective beauty mask of the present invention thus is comprised of a porous somewhat elastic and flexible material which is shaped to the general contours of the portions of the face that are to be protected from contact with the pillow or bed and resulting distortion. The mask has a side face portion and side jaw portion on each side thereof. The side face portions are joined at the lower edge thereof to the corresponding side jaw portions which extend under the jaw and are joined to an underchin portion at the front of the neck of the wearer. The rear margin of the side face portion extends from an upper apex of the side face portion that is located slightly above and forward of the ear of the wearer when the mask is in place. The rear margin extends downwardly to the rear end of the side jaw portion of the mask. The front margin of the side face portion extends downwardly and forwardly from the apex and extends adjacent to the outside corner of the eye of the wearer and then downward and slightly forward of the cheekbone area to adjacent the corner of the wearers mouth. The mask thus extends forward enough to substantially cover the side of the cheekbone area. Adjacent the mouth, the side face portion of the mask is joined to the chin portion which is comprised of a chin cap portion which extends over the apex of the chin and upwardly over the front of the chin to a point just intermediate the apex of the chin and the lower lip of the wearer. The chin portion also extends rearwardly to join the side face portions and side jaw portions and the underchin portion. Since people do not ordinarily lie with the front of their face directly in contact with the pillow or bed, most of the front of the face, including the mouth, nose, eyes, and forehead, of the wearer, are not covered by the mask, thus adding to the overall comfort of the wearer while protecting the critical areas of the face from frictional contact with the pillow or mattress, and preventing the unwanted pressure and distortion of the facial skin and muscle tissue. Means are provided for securing the mask to the wearers face. In order that the mask may be comfortable during its wear, it is constructed of a porous material to prevent the accumulation of excessive amounts of moisturizers, creams, and the like. Moisturizers may be applied to the skin since the wearing of the mask will tend to serve as an evaporation inhibitor of such moisturizers. At the same time, the porous structure of the mask will serve as a sponge for removing the excess oils from the surface of the skin. The utilization of a porous material in forming the mask also allows the face to breathe when the mask is worn, thus adding to the comfort of the mask as well as the health of the skin.

The mask is preferably formed from an open-pored synthetic resin which is molded to the general contours of the portions of the face that are covered by the mask. While the mask may be constructed in separate portions which are later sewn or otherwise joined together, it is preferably formed from an integral molded structure which has a thickness preferably of from onefourth to one-half inch with one-fourth to fivesixteenths inch most preferred in order to provide sufficient support for the face. The appropriate thickness for the type of material that is actually employed can be selected with ease by those skilled in the art. It is sufficient that the thickness and type material provide sufficient support so that the frictional forces which ordinarily would distort the skin and facial muscles are not transferred through the mask to the face and that there is enough protective cushioning effect and that the mask is firm in order to prevent concentrated pressures on any area of the facial muscles. The mask should be flexible enough to conform to individual facial contours. The mask is easily held in place on the face by one or more elastic straps passing over the top of the head of the wearer.

Preferably the material from which the mask is constructed should have hypoallergenic properties since it would usually be in direct contact with the skin of the face. If desired, the porous material which is preferably of a synthetic resin type of rubber material can be covered with a layer of synthetic or natural fiber or blend cloth in order to increase the comfort of the wearer. The mask may also be constructed from either natural or synthetic fill contained within a shaped synthetic or natural cloth cover provided the structure is shaped to the general contours of the face and is firm enough to give the required support and protection to the facial skin and muscle tissue, and porous as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the mask placed on a wearers face;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the mask shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT Referring in more particular detail to the accompanying drawing, a specific embodiment of the protective facial beauty mask is shown generally at 2 in place on the face of a wearer. The mask in the embodiment illustrated is comprised of molded polyurethane approximately five-sixteenths of an inch thick. The mask 2 is comprised of side face portions 4 which are joined to side jaw portions 6 at the lower edges 8 of the side face portions 4. The side jaw portions 6 extend under the jaw to support the jaw tissue and are joined to an underchin portion 10 which runs under the jaw forwardly of the neck margin 12. The side face portions 4 of the mask 2 are defined in part by the upper apex 16 located slightly above and forward of the wearers ear and the rear margin 14 of the mask 2 which runs downward from the apex 16 extending in front of the car 28 and joining the rear end of the side jaw portion as indicated at 20. A front margin 22 extends from the apex 16 downwardly and forwardly past the outside corner of the eye as indicated at 24 and just forward of the cheekbone area indicated at 26 so that the cheeks are protected, and then downward, almost vertically, to the area at the corner of the mouth at the side and slightly behind the corner of the mouth of the wearer as indicated at 28 at which point it is joined to the upper margin 30 of the chin portion 32. The chin portion 32 comprises a chin cap section 34 which covers the apex 36 of the chin of the wearer and extends upwardly in front of the chin to the point indicated at 38 intermediate the lower lip 40 of the wearer and the apex 36.

Elastic securing means 42 comprising a rear strap 44 and a forward strap 46 are provided for holding the mask securely about the face of the wearer. The straps 44 and 46 are secured to the upper apex 16 of the mask 2 as indicated at 48 by stitching or any other suitable means such as adhesive or the like.-

The facial beauty mask of this invention thus provides protection to the facial skin and muscle tissue of the wearer during the sleep process by gently but firmly surrounding the jaw, chin, cheek, and jowl areas which are most susceptible to distortion and stretching when these areas of the face are in pressure contact with a pillow or other bed materials. The mask thus prevents or greatly minimizes the formation of wrinkles and lines in the face due to such distortion and stretching. The mask described is comfortable to wear and permits the eyes, nose, mouth, and forehead areas of the wearer to remain uncovered in contrast to most previous facial beauty masks. Furthermore, since the mask is of porous construction, it allows the face to breathe adding to the comfort of the wearer.

While the invention has been explained by a detailed description of certain specific embodiments, it is understood that various modifications and substitutions can be made in any of them within the scope of the appended claims which are intended also to include equivalents of such embodiments.

I claim:

1. A facial beauty mask for protection of the face of the wearer from distortion, said mask comprising a porous slightly elastic and flexible material shaped to the general contours of the portions of the face of the wearer covered by said mask, said mask have an upwardly extending side portion designed to cover a portion of the wearers face and a lower portion adapted to cover the wearers jaw on each side thereof, each of said side face portions being joined at a lower edge thereof to the corresponding side jaw portion, each of said jaw portions designed to extend under the wearers jaw, and joined at a lower end thereof to an underchin portion which is adapted to be positioned in front of the neck of the wearer, a rear margin on each of said side face portions, said rear margin extending from an upper apex of said side face portion which would be located slightly above and forward of the wearers ear, and which would extend downwardly to the rear end of said side jaw portion, a front margin of each of said side face portions extending downwardly and forwardly from said apex of said side portion which is adapted to lie adjacent the outside corner of the eye of the wearer and slightly forward of the cheekbone area, said side face portion thereby covering the side of the cheekbone area, said side face portion front margin extending downwardly and adapted to lie adjacent the corner of the wearers mouth and there joining the upper margin of a chin portion, said chin portion comprising a chin cap portion extending outwardly a sufficient distance over the apex of the chin and upwardly to cover the front of the chin to a point intermediate the apex of the chin and the lower lip of the wearer and rearwardly joining said side face portions, said side jaw portions, and said underchin portion; the mouth, nose, eyes, and forehead of the wearer remaining uncovered by said mask; and means for releaseably securing said mask on the face of the wearer comprising at least one elastic strap connected at each end thereof to the apex of each of said side face portions, said side face portions, said jaw portions, said chin portions and said underchin portion are formed integrally of a molded porous synthetic resin material said material being from one-fourth to one-half inch in thickness.

2. A facial beauty mask as claimed in claim 1 wherein said material comprises an open cell polyurethane form. 

1. A facial beauty mask for protection of the face of the wearer from distortion, said mask comprising a porous slightly elastic and flexible material shaped to the general contours of the portions of the face of the wearer covered by said mask, said mask have an upwardly extending side portion designed to cover a portion of the wearer''s face and a lower portion adapted to cover the wearer''s jaw on each side thereof, each of said side face portions being joined at a lower edge thereof to the corresponding side jaw portion, each of said jaw portions designed to extend under the wearer''s jaw, and joined at a lower end thereof to an underchin portion which is adapted to be positioned in front of the neck of the wearer, a rear margin on each of said side face portions, said rear margin extending from an upper apex of said side face portion which would be located slightly above and forward of the wearer''s ear, and which would extend downwardly to the rear end of said side jaw portion, a front margin of each of said side face portions extending downwardly and forwardly from said apex of said side portion which is adapted to lie adjacent the outside corner of the eye of the wearer and slightly forward of the cheekbone area, said side face portion thereby covering the side of the cheekbone area, said side face portion front margin extending downwardly and adapted to lie adjacent the corner of the wearer''s mouth and there joining the upper margin of a chin portion, said chin portion comprising a chin cap portion extending outwardly a sufficient distance over the apex of the chin and upwardly to cover the front of the chin to a point intermediate the apex of the chin and the lower lip of the wearer and rearwardly joining said side face portions, said side jaw portions, and said underchin portion; the mouth, nose, eyes, and forehead of the wearer remaining uncovered by said mask; and means for releaseably securing said mask on the face of the wearer comprising at least one elasTic strap connected at each end thereof to the apex of each of said side face portions, said side face portions, said jaw portions, said chin portions and said underchin portion are formed integrally of a molded porous synthetic resin material said material being from one-fourth to one-half inch in thickness.
 2. A facial beauty mask as claimed in claim 1 wherein said material comprises an open cell polyurethane form. 